As the longtime director of design for the Dunbar furniture company, Edward Wormley was, along with such peers as George Nelson at Herman Miller Inc., and Florence Knoll of Knoll Inc., one of the leading forces in bringing modern design into American homes in the mid-20th century. Not an axiomatic modernist, Wormley deeply appreciated traditional design, and consequently his vintage seating, storage cabinets, bar carts and other work has an understated warmth and a timeless quality that sets it apart from other furnishings of the era.
Wormley was born in rural Illinois and as a teenager took correspondence courses from the New York School of Interior Design. He later attended the Art Institute of Chicago but ran out of money for tuition before he could graduate. Marshall Field hired Wormley in 1930 to design a line of reproduction 18th-century English furniture; the following year he was hired by the Indiana-based Dunbar, where he quickly distinguished himself. It was a good match.
Dunbar was an unusual firm: it did not use automated production systems; its pieces were mostly hand-constructed. For his part, Wormley did not use metal as a major component of furniture; he liked craft elements such as caned seatbacks, tambour drawers, or the woven-wood cabinet fronts seen on his Model 5666 sideboard of 1956. He designed two lines for Dunbar each year — one traditional, one modern — until 1944, by which time the contemporary pieces had become the clear best sellers.
Many of Wormley’s signature pieces — chairs, sofas, tables and more — are modern interpretations of traditional forms. His 1946 Riemerschmid Chair — an example is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art — recapitulates a late 19th-century German design. The long, slender finials of his Model 5580 dining chairs are based on those of Louis XVI chairs; his Listen-to-Me Chaise (1948) has a gentle Rococo curve; the “Precedent” line that Wormley designed for Drexel Furniture in 1947 is a simplified, pared-down take on muscular Georgian furniture. But he could invent new forms, as his Magazine table of 1953, with its bent wood pockets, and his tiered Magazine Tree (1947), both show. And Wormley kept his eye on design currents, creating a series of tables with tops that incorporate tiles and roundels by the great modern ceramicists Otto and Gertrud Natzler.
As the vintage items on 1stDibs demonstrate, Edward Wormley conceived of a subdued sort of modernism, designing furniture that fits into any decorating scheme and does not shout for attention.
Edward Wormley Party Server
By Edward Wormley
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Edward Wormley Party Server Walnut,Japanese Pine and Laminate. The bar cart features one drawer and 2 adjustable shelves The top pivots and measur...
Walnut
Serving Table on Casters by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, Expertly Refinished
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare serving / console table with drawer designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, 1950s. Highly figured walnut top and dark mahogany base and brass casters. We acquired this from the o...
Brass
Edward Wormley Bar Cart for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This unique midcentury bar cart features a unique sliding slate style top that expands to 62 inches wide to reveal locking side cabinet. Additional storage in drawer and open adjusta...
Walnut
Edward Wormley Bleached Mahogany Reeded Curule Leg Table
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
An uncommon and early Edward Wormley design for Dunbar, this reeded Curule leg end table has a three-sided gallery framed top, three part stretcher connecti...
Architectural Walnut and Black Laminate Console by Edward Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in North Miami, FL
Architectural table No. 5403 in walnut with black laminate top and shelves designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Walnut, Laminate
Edward Wormley for Drexel Precedent Rolling Bar Cart
By Edward Wormley, Drexel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pistachio green rolling bar cart from the Precedent series by Edward Wormley for Dunbar circa 1960. 3 tiered rolling cart featuring a textured glass top and casters. Precedent by Drexel...
Wood
Italian Design Mid-Century Bar Cart, 1950s
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Rare 1950s Italian desgin serving bar cart. Made of beech wood equipped with two glass shelves and brass wheels for convenient movement. Perfect for serving drinks to your guests. Vi...
Glass, Beech
Midcentury Chrome Glass and Marble Bar Cart
Located in Houston, TX
A midcentury two-tiered chrome, glass, and marble bar cart on casters.
Marble, Chrome
Tambour Door Storage Console with Drawer by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A rare curved front console in rich grained rosewood with a single drawer and slatted tambour storage.
Mahogany
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Modular Console Table Circa 1950s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Beautiful set of tables designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Architectural and Mid Century Modern in design. Tables have a simple elegant design. Both tables are marked. One long short console table...
Formica, Ash
Antique Jacobean Style Turned Oak Tiered Server
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A tiered Jacobean Server with bold form, great age patina and three tiers. Made in three tiers, the top and second tier with carved friezes in a pattern of textured squares and small...
Oak
Edward Wormley, Console Table, Walnut, Brass, USA, 1950s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in High Point, NC
A walnut and brass console table designed by Edward Wormley and produced by Dunbar, Berne, Indiana, USA, 1950s. Dimensions: 27.375” H x 59.875” W x 21.875” D
Brass
$4,995
H 29.75 in W 51.75 in D 45 in
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Mid-Century Modern Dining Table, Newly Refinished
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Mid-Century Modern hexagonal dining table or game table in gorgeous book-matched rosewood By Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture USA, 1960s Measures 51.75"W x 45"D ...
Rosewood
Pair of Shell Console Tables by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
A matching pair of bleached mahogany, hand carved shell console tables designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Mahogany
Ed Wormley for Dunbar Ash and Laminate Console Table
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in New Windsor, NY
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Ash and laminate modular console table. Two white laminate shelves and solid ash open frame low console table. Circa 1960. Signed with gold metal tag, Dunba...
Laminate, Ash
Edward Wormley Long John Shelf for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Long John Shelf can be used as shelf or console. Walnut wood with great sapwood striped details.
Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Bar Cart Edward Wormley for Dunbar C1953
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous bar cart/server with a drop down top which is 27 inches and 54 when raised, shelves for bottles, cupboard for glasses and other necessities. Model # 5433 created out of waln...
Brass
Pair of Edward Wormley for Drexel Precedent End Tables
By Drexel, Edward Wormley
Located in Buffalo, NY
Refined simplicity designed by Edward Wormley for Drexel. The end tables are part of the Precedent collection that he produced in the 1950s. Professionally restored, stunning off whi...
Brass
$4,434 / item
H 31.5 in W 70.87 in D 21.66 in
Console Table, High Gloss Laminate & Brass Details, Antique White - L
By Jover + Valls
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
Julieta Collection. Console Table with High Gloss Top, Brass Tape Framed, Black Powder Coating Conical Legs with Brass End Introducing the stunning console table with black powder...
Brass
$1,440Sale Price|20% Off
H 27.96 in W 33.67 in D 17.52 in
Unique White Cesare Lacca Tea Trolley or Bar Cart for Cassina, Italy 1950s
By Cesare Lacca, Cassina
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Unique white lacquered tea trolley or bar cart by Cesare Lacca for Cassina In my opinion the white lacquer is period correct from when it was ...
Glass, Walnut
$9,200 / set
H 36.75 in W 54.5 in D 21 in
Italian, Veneto, Walnut Neoclassical 1-Drawer Console Table (1 available)
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Italian walnut neoclassical one drawer walnut consoles, Veneto Region.
Walnut
Sold
H 29.5 in W 80 in D 21 in
Early Vintage Large Scale Edward Wormley Console / Sofa Table for Dunbar
By Harvey Probber, Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
Model 5294. An early example of this large scale console / sofa table form by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Leather wrapped feet. Early green Label on inside drawer. This piece needs to...
Wood
Sold
H 33 in W 38.5 in D 21 in
Mid-Century Hand-Rubbed Walnut Drop Leaf Bar Cart by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in New York, NY
This Mid-Century Modernist Walnut Drop Leaf Bar Cart was created by the illustrious designer Edward Wormley for Dunbar originating from the United States, Circa 1950. Featuring a lov...
Mirror, Walnut
Sold
H 33 in W 38.5 in D 21 in
Mid-Century Hand-Rubbed Walnut Drop Leaf Bar Cart by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in New York, NY
This Mid-Century Modernist Walnut Drop Leaf Bar Cart was created by the illustrious designer Edward Wormley for Dunbar originating from the United States, Circa 1950. Featuring a lov...
Walnut, Glass
Sold
H 29.5 in W 80 in L 29.5 in
Early Vintage Large Scale Edward Wormley Console / Sofa Table for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
An early example of this large scale console / sofa table form by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Leather wrapped feet. Early green Label on inside drawer. This piece needs to be refinish...
Wood
Edward Wormley Bar/ Serving Cart by Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Highland, IN
This beautifully designed and detailed rolling cart by Edward Wormley has a lovely arrangement of shelves, a cabinet with cane front doors and a highly functional mica top that flips...
Brass
Rosewood Side Table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Denton, TX
Rosewood side table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Rosewood, Mahogany
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Console Table
By Edward Wormley
Located in Denton, TX
Edward Wormley for Dunbar console table.
Wood
Sold
H 24 in W 53.5 in D 23 in
Vintage Edward Wormley for Dunbar Ash & Black Laminate Low Table, c1955
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Geometrically conceived low table with solid ash construction and black laminate top, Edward Wormley for Dunbar, circa 1955.
Laminate, Ash
Edward Wormley Bar/ Serving Cart by Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Highland, IN
This beautifully designed and detailed rolling cart by Edward Wormley has a lovely arrangement of shelves, a cabinet with cane front doors and a highly functional mica top that flips...
Brass
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Serving or Bar Cart
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Houston, TX
Great Edward Wormley Walnut Serving or Bar Cart for Dunbar. This serving cart has brass pulls and rosewood accents. The top is a black laminate for fixing your favorite drink!
Brass
Sold
H 31 in W 41.5 in D 15.75 in
Edward Wormley Walnut, Micarta and Cane Flip-Top Bar Cart for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Chicago, IL
A rarely offered dual-sided bar cart or server by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. The frame and cane front cabinet are comprised of walnut wood and the service areas are a combination of ...
Brass
Dunbar / Wormley Buffet Table
By Edward Wormley
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A dark satin ebony toned mahogany Dunbar Buffet table # 5294 with center drawer, sculpted handle, satin black finished top and wrapped legs tips in a rich brown/ green leather. Retai...
Wood, Leather
Flip Top Console Table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley
Located in Dallas, TX
An early bleached mahogany console table with hinged top. Designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Sculptural Side Table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Dallas, TX
Sculptural Side Table by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Very fluid and beautifully crafted.
Mahogany
Dunbar Serving Cart by Edward J. Wormley
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning serving cart designed by Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar.. Features two removable trays and folding extension leaves for extra surface space.
Walnut, Glass